Strawberry-Blonde or Fiery Red?
"What has who done?" Natalie-Anne asked as if she had no idea what Niki was talking about. She looked in the mirror and focused on cerulean, her eyes had multiple flickers of emerald, but she cast a purple to them, her darkness. She checked her facial expression and knew it was indifferent, yet there was a natural look to her face that gave away fear.
Niki looked at the strawberry blonde, and knew what she saw. She didn't see a born Russian, no way. There was more to this girl than met the eye, and she was going to find out. She replied with an indifferent answer, "Forget it, you just reminded me of an old friend." This really wasn't a lie. It was the honest truth. She was reminded heavily of Lily Evans, but the fact remained that Lily had shining emerald eyes, and flaming red hair. She knew there was no way this girl could be her Lily, but possibly related? That was it, she knew it.
"Oh. Well I can't say I've ever met anyone quite like you before." Natalie-Anne tried to say as if it where true. She managed it, but it was difficult. She smiled lightly and said, "So James didn't tell me much about you. Care to share?" She didn't have to make it sound like she really was interested. She really truly was.
"I'm an Auror in training, and won't be fully qualified for another year, unlike James; I wasn't born with the natural gift of potion making unfortunately. I'm twenty-one, as are James and Sirius. We went to school here together, Sirius was a player, James was until he fell in love, and broke my best friends' heart, and then she broke his when she left. Me personally though, I'm a simple girl who is working for Dumbledore because I have no live and needed a good job to pay through Auror training. I specialize in charms, but I know History of Magic better than Professor Bins. He's a ghost who teaches the subject, Dumbledore is giving him a little time off this year to see if I can do better. Let's see, that's about it for now. What about you?" She was sharp and quick, and Natalie-Anne knew it when she first started talking. Nothing had changed since Hogwarts really. She still was not with Sirius. Note to self: figure that one out. Natalie-Anne reminded herself.
"I'm the same age as you guys; I've been a loner since I turned eighteen. I have traveled some, lived in France, grew up in Russia." What a lie that is. Natalie-Anne thought as she said it. "Charms are what I do, but apparently I'm helping with Charms, and doing a lot of Potions with Sirius I believe, unless of course it would be you." She saw the girl's eyes darken as she said his name; yeah the passion was still there. She shook her head to say that she wasn't doing Potions. "I was recommended to the Dumbledore by someone at the ministry. I'm a simple girl in my own world. That's all anyone really needs to know." Natalie-Anne was very definitive in what she said, and Niki was not ready to question this girl's intent, not yet at least.
"Cool." That's all Niki chose to say. She knew saying more would betray her true thoughts. "Yeah Black, well that's Sirius' last name." Natalie-Anne nodded in understanding. "Anyway Black is helping you out with Potions." Natalie-Anne scuffed at that thought, even the thought of Sirius teaching, but helping her teach, this would be a long year. She looked up to see Niki's knowing look, she hated that look. It was a classic look back in the day, when she denied her love for James generally.
"Well I'm all packed. Want to go back down to the common room?" Natalie-Anne asked in a falsely cheery voice. She wasn't to content with the idea of having to lie to James and Sirius. Never really could lie to either of them. No, that was then, this is now. I can lie to anyone and everyone. I am a master occulemency. They can not break my shield. Natalie-Anne knew this was only partially true, they could see through anything she put up, and she knew this better than anyone.
"If you want to, but I warn you, Potter and Black can be rather annoying at times." Niki said offhandedly. Natalie-Anne noticed how after all these years they were still 'Potter' and 'Black'. "More like always." Natalie-Anne heard Niki mutter under her breath. She couldn't help but grin. This girl would never change.
Downstairs James and Sirius had been speaking about the new girl who had arrived.
"She seems so familiar." James said, he was in a trance and Sirius gave him an incredulous look. Sirius hadn't seen that trance in forever and a couple days. It was the look he used to get when he would think of Lily. Sirius smacked him
"Don't get any funny ideas lover boy. She is no Lily Rose Evans and you know dam well she can't replace Lils." Sirius was very stern and demanding. James snapped out of his day dream and stared at Sirius.
"That's exactly who she seems like. She seems a lot like my Lily Flower. Well her personality at the very least. She doesn't look a lot like Flower, but you know, looks only mean so much."
To say Sirius was in awe was an understatement. His mouth hung open and he couldn't believe a word that had just come out of his best friend's mouth. Replacing Lillian Evans was never an option.
James looked at his best friend before saying. "Okay, I'll shut up now. But don't think for a second that I don't believe that." Sirius gave him a defeated look, but didn't reply.
A/N: Okay here you go, chapter two! sorry it took so long, i didn't like it, and still don't, but I'm on spring break, and while i'm outside catchin some sun 2morrow, i plan on writing :-p So please review and tell me what you think. I really really don't like this chapter, but i didn't want you all to have to wait longer :( so REVIEW!
CrazyLily